undisturbed areas of the site in advance of continued construction. The destruction of the site had a profound effect on Delgado. At 16, he prepared the nomination papers for the site, as the "Rancho de Santa Teresa Hacienda and Headquarters." It was listed on the National Register in 1975 as site #75002184. His research notes, photographs, and materials are now in the special collections of the San Jose Public Library. They also document his earliest, teenage exploration s into the nearby foothills in search of caves, abandoned mines, archaeological sites, and historic ruins. Delgado, at 14, made an appointment with then San Jose Mayor Norman Y. Mineta to lobby for changes in the city's laws to protect archaeological sites. Mineta appointed Delgado to be the San Jose Youth Commission's Liaison to the city's Historical landmarks Commission. After serving as the liaison for three years, then Mayor Janet Gray Hayes appointed Delgado as a commissioner in 1976 when he was 18. Hayes also appointed Delgado to the San Jose Bicentennial Commission, which planned and organized the city's events in celebration of the American Revolution Bicentennial in 1976. As a commissioner, he participated in the first inventory of historical and architectural heritage in 1977, and then the Santa Clara County Heritage Inventory. Delgado's early experience in historic preservation, especially the National Register nomination, opened his eyes to the larger world of historic preservation beyond archaeology, while also solidly affirming what would become a lifelong quest to protect the past from looting and destruction. Encouraged by his father, Delgado also focused on public speaking, debate club, student government, and competed in public speaking contests. He won the local Optimist's Club's speaking competition in 1973 for a speech on the club's theme for that year, "Listen World." The following year, he won the historical narration contest of the local chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West. At age 14, he also landed his first job as a fifty cent per hour assistant at the New Almaden Museum south of San Francisco, sweeping floors and washing windows. He spent many hours eagerly studying artifacts housed in the glass cases, and eventually graduated to tour guide. His mentor, museum founder Constance B. "Connie" Perham, taught him, as he would later write, “that collecting the past meant nothing unless you could share it with others and make it relevant and exciting for them." During his